NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

• Per Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, Bears GM Ryan Pace wouldn’t commit to exercising QB Mitchell Trubisky‘s fifth-year option despite committing to him as the starter in 2020: “We’re not at that point right now.”
• Pace noted Trubisky may need surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. (Jeff Dickerson)
• According to Pace, the Bears are happy with the production they’re getting from LB Leonard Floyd as he enters his fifth-year option in 2020: “I know the stats don’t always say that. … There aren’t a lot of outside linebackers that can provide the versatility he provides.” (Kevin Fishbain)
• Bears LB Roquan Smith (pec), WR Anthony Miller (shoulder) and TE Trey Burton (hip) will all have offseason surgery with training camp the target for return. (Fishbain)
• Despite a lack of production, Pace says former second-round TE Adam Shaheen will be back with the Bears in 2020. (Dickerson)
• Pace said the team will have a decision to make on G Kyle Long‘s option for 2020. (Dickerson)

Lions

After starting the 2019 season unbeaten through three games, the Lions dropped off precipitously, winning just one of their final 13 games. The team finished with 16 players on injured reserve, including QB Matthew Stafford and not including RB Kerryon Johnson who missed eight games before returning from IR. In his end of season press conference, Lions GM Bob Quinn essentially blamed injuries for Detroit’s failures in 2019.

“I’m never going to sit up here ever and say that injuries are an excuse. They’re not,” Quinn said via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “We had a lot of injuries this year, and we have to look at that and see what happened there, and see where we can get better.”

Packers

• According to the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers OT Bryan Bulaga and K Mason Crosby are two of the top candidates to be re-signed by Green Bay this offseason. 
• Schneidman adds an extension for DT Kenny Clark, who’s entering his fifth-year option in 2020, is also on the priority list. 
• Schneidman doesn’t expect the Packers to be able to meet LB Blake Martinez‘s salary requests in a new deal this offseason. 
• Packers TE Jimmy Graham and OL Lane Taylor are two obvious cap casualties, per Schneidman.